Lee County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Lee County divorce decree records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Dixon, Illinois, the county seat for this 15th Judicial Circuit county in northwest Illinois. If you need to search a dissolution of marriage case, request a certified copy of a divorce decree, or verify a record through the state, this page covers every method available to Lee County residents and researchers.
Lee County Quick Facts
Lee County Circuit Clerk Office
Amy Johnson serves as the Circuit Court Clerk for Lee County. The clerk's office holds all civil and domestic court records filed in this county, including divorce decrees and dissolution of marriage judgments. Only the Lee County Circuit Court Clerk can issue certified copies of divorce decrees for cases that were filed here. No state agency or adjacent county can provide these copies.
| Office | Lee County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Amy Johnson |
| Address | 309 S. Galena, Suite 320, Dixon, IL 61021-0325 |
| Phone | (815) 284-5234 |
| Fax | (815) 288-5615 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
Call before visiting to confirm current fees and wait times. Have the names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce ready. Staff can search by name or case number and will tell you if a record is available or if it needs to be retrieved from storage. Bring a photo ID for any in-person visit.
Search Lee County Divorce Cases Online
Lee County is part of the Judici network, so free public case searches are available at Judici.com. No account is needed. Search by either party's name or by case number to see the case type, filing date, and court events. You can check whether a dissolution judgment was entered in Lee County and when that occurred, all without contacting the clerk first.
For a broader search across multiple counties, try re:SearchIL. This is useful when you are not sure whether a divorce was filed in Lee County or in neighboring Carroll, Whiteside, Bureau, LaSalle, DeKalb, or Ogle County. Both Judici and re:SearchIL are read-only tools. You cannot file documents or obtain certified copies through them.
Older records that have not yet been indexed online are available in person at the clerk's office at 309 S. Galena, Suite 320 in Dixon.
Judici provides free public access to Lee County court records, including dissolution of marriage filings in the 15th Judicial Circuit in Dixon.
Getting Certified Copies of Lee County Divorce Decrees
A certified copy of a divorce decree has the court's official seal and signature. It is the version you need for legal matters -- name changes on government IDs, property deed changes, and more. A plain copy or a printout from an online system will not work for these purposes. Only the Lee County Circuit Court Clerk can issue certified copies of cases filed here.
Visit the clerk's office at Suite 320, 309 S. Galena in Dixon with a government-issued photo ID. Bring the full names of both parties. Call (815) 284-5234 first to confirm the current fee. Certified copies cost more than plain copies, so be clear about which type you need when you make your request.
Mail requests are accepted. Write a letter with the case details, enclose a copy of your ID, and send payment by check or money order payable to the Lee County Circuit Clerk. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests process in one to three weeks, though older or archived records may take a bit longer.
IDPH Divorce Verification for Lee County Records
The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains a statewide divorce index covering Illinois cases from 1962 forward, including those filed in Lee County. IDPH verification confirms that a divorce took place and provides basic facts like the parties' names and the county of filing. It is not a certified court document.
The fee is $5 per verification. Mail your request to IDPH, 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702-2737. You can also call IDPH at (217) 782-6554 to ask about the process. Allow four to six weeks for a response. Pre-1962 divorces are not in the state index. For those, contact the Lee County Circuit Clerk directly.
Illinois Divorce Law and Lee County Filings
Lee County divorces fall under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, 750 ILCS 5/. Illinois uses only one ground for divorce: irreconcilable differences. Under Section 401(a)(2), six months of living apart is conclusive proof of irreconcilable differences. The law does not require proving fault or specific reasons for the breakdown of a marriage.
At least one spouse must have lived in Illinois for 90 days before filing. Venue rules in Section 104 allow filing in any county where either spouse lives. Lee County is in the 15th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties. Residents of Dixon, Amboy, and other Lee County communities all file at the Dixon courthouse regardless of which part of the county they live in.
Divorce decrees are public records in Illinois under 735 ILCS 5/. Most people can view them without explaining why.
Divorce Forms and Legal Resources in Lee County
The Illinois Courts website has free, court-approved divorce forms available for download at the Illinois Courts forms page. These include petition forms, financial disclosure statements, parenting plans, and proposed judgment forms. All are valid for the 15th Circuit serving Lee County.
For free legal guidance, Illinois Legal Aid Online provides plain-language explanations of every step in the Illinois divorce process. It includes a directory of legal aid providers by county. Legal aid options for rural northwest Illinois counties can be limited, but the Illinois Legal Aid statewide hotline can help connect you with whatever is available in the Lee County area.
Illinois Legal Aid covers the full divorce process under Illinois law and provides resources relevant to Lee County residents in the 15th Judicial Circuit.
eFileIL Electronic Filing in Lee County
Electronic filing has been mandatory for all Illinois attorneys since July 1, 2018. Lee County courts are part of the eFileIL system, and self-represented parties can also use it to submit petitions and case documents online. This is a practical option for filers who live far from the Dixon courthouse or want to avoid an in-person trip for routine submissions.
E-filing is for document submissions only. Certified copy requests still go through the clerk's office at (815) 284-5234. Call before visiting if you are unsure whether a particular document needs to be filed in person or can be submitted electronically.
Nearby Counties
Illinois requires that divorce be filed in the county where at least one spouse resides. If Lee County is not the right venue for your case, check these neighboring county pages.